# NTSB MIA05CA065: Cessna 172, N212CF, Madison, MS, March 2, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 2, 2005, 12:55 local (18:55 UTC) - Place: Madison, MS - Coordinates: 32.434165, -90.105003 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4342&lon=-90.1050&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FSDO SO07 - NTSB case key (mKey): 61082 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA05CA065 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61082/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05CA065 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare which resulted in substantial damage during the subsequent hard landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The student pilot experienced a hard landing, and while she tried to taxi off the runway lost control of the aircraft and went on to the adjacent grass. The student pilot was on her third solo landing. According to the student pilot, during the landing flare the aircraft "ballooned" followed by the hard landing. The investigation revealed the airplane touched down twice on the runway during the landing. The examination of the aircraft revealed the firewall, and lower fuselage was damaged during the impact sequence. ## Factual narrative On March 2, 2005, about 1255 central standard time, a Cessna 172, N212CF, registered to KEMS LLC and operated by Madison Flyers, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, had a hard landing at the Bruce Campbell Field Airport, Madison, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The student pilot received no injuries, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The local flight originated earlier that day, about 1100. The student pilot stated that after returning to Bruce Campbell Field the certified flight instructor (CFI) permitted her to conduct several solo flights. On her third landing, the airplane was within 10 feet of the ground when she flared. At this point, she felt a strong gust of wind and the airplane began to "balloon" back up. She attempted to maintain the airplane level to touch down, but it hit the runway and began to porpoise back up, as she attempted to maintain control. The airplane hit the runway hard again, she applied the brakes and proceeded to turn off at the taxiway but she felt like the airplane was a little "out of control," unable to control the turn, the left wheel went into the grass. Once stopped she radioed for the assistance of the CFI. The student pilot stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunction to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident. The CFI stated that after returning to Bruce Campbell Field he had the student pilot stop and drop him off so she could perform several solo flights. He told her to fly multiple touch and goes and that he would listen for her on his hand held radio. He was only in the fixed based operators office for a short time when he was advised his student had the airplane in the grass. He then went out to the airplane and assisted the student by taxing the airplane back to the ramp. The responding FAA accident inspector stated the student pilot was conducting her third solo landing when it appeared to her the landing was going to be long. She then pushed the airplane on down to the runway until it hit. Then it bounced back up hitting the runway much harder knocking her headset off. She regained control enough to keep the airplane from going all the way off the runway. After coming to a stop with the left wheel in the grass she called the fixed based operator and the CFI came out to aid her. The CFI stated he taxied the airplane back to the ramp and shut it down. Inspection of the airplane revealed approximately 12 1/2 inches of the firewall to be creased. The airplanes belly and floor also had creases. The ailerons operated normally but, the elevator yoke was binding only on the pilots control column. The bracket holding the yoke was observed to be bent, from impact forces. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N212CF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N212CF), registered now, S/N 17280418, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172r) (registry code 2072401) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17280418 - Airframe hours: 1758.6 - Engines: Lycoming 10360L2A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kems LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 28, 2005, 47.5 hours before - Departed: KMBO, Madison, MS - Destination: Madison, MS - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: KMBO, Bruce Campbell Field Airport, runway 17, 4,444 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 50; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 68 total, 35 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: GLH ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20050302002179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050302002179A), Mar 2, 2005: Cessna 172R, Madison, MS, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] accomplished two solo landings and on the third she stated the landing appeared normal except the landing appeared long… ## Other investigations on N212CF (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ERA12LA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA061), Nov 2, 2011: Cessna 172R (N212CF), Frederick, MD, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot’s inadequate directional control during the landing roll. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.